"VERY interesting article about A+ schools and Gates money. PG writer Chris Potter, I don't know who you are, but I want to thank you! Not your typical Elenor Chute PG press release puff piece!
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2015/01/04/A-Schools-moves-to-stronger-advocacy-on-Pittsburgh-Schools/stories/201412280086
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8 comments:
potter was at the helm of The City Paper for many years. he appeared on the city paper podcast with lynn cullen once a week. he knows this town well.
Perhaps the tide is turning??!!!
Really....give me a break about laying off teachers based on oerformance. There is so much inequity in our schools and even within the schools. Some schools in the district have ipads and wifi and student computers that work. Technology is plentiful and abundant, whereas, in other schools, some classrooms have 0 student computers, 0 ipads and wi fi...REALLY? Then within the school, you have teachers teaching 2 tested areas and some teachers testing no testing areas. Then we get reports on what we are teaching from the district and they aren't even accurate. I appreciate A plus schools enlightening the public about the schools, but you need to really examine how fair each school is and how unique each classroom is,but there is no time for that. I would love to really discuss the findings with A plus. Actually, I would love if the Gates money would help the students and not keep sending in people to hatchet teacherss
Anonymous wrote:
Good reader comments follow this article online.
Why doesn't Carey Harris and A+ Schools concern themselves with what is going on at UPrep? Do they ever go into schools to see what is going on or are they just concerned with Gates' agenda? I'm sure they monitor this blog and read the comments. Shouldn't they be trying to get Jake Wheatley and the powers that be to do something? Stop blaming everything on the teachers and initiate action to help our students get an education. Help take back control of this school.
The idea of focusing on 3% of teachers as a solution when more than 50% of students are not proficient is so illogical that it is difficult to see how it can even be taken seriously. Especially because it is not like that 3% has been ignored up to this point, there has always been a percentage of teachers who received help or were pushed out.
All I got to say there be more organizations that will take GATES money in regards to EDUCATION to push their agenda just follow the money trail you see just like a election put money out there to support not just only the candidate but the agenda as well this is the same concept but a different playing field always about money to get your agenda through at all COST$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$the all mighty DOLLAR it's call the AMERICAN DREAM in our case EDUCATION
Technology doesn't seem to be working well anywhere. No support for teachers(even from the union). Everything is a mess. Everything is a gray area and no one seems to know anything for sure. The things that the district use to do well are lost. Career ladder positions are completely useless for improving instruction. Curricula are vague and disjointed. Very scary place.
This is a comment about the latest (1/26) "opinion letter" about A+ Schools in the P-G. More A+ PR.
"Does anyone else find it strange that there is an almost monthly (or more) article, opinion letter, editorial piece, etc. praising or thanking A+ schools in the PG? There are countless amazing foundations, advocacy groups, charitable organizations, and educational partnerships with a long history of serving the Pittsburgh community. Why don't we see an endless stream of love letters and thank you notes for ANY other group?
Is the work of A+ schools so life changing that citizens are compelled to stop what they doing and compose a written thank you note that simply must be shared with the entire city?
When was the last time you thought something was so amazing or helpful, you said to yourself "I must stop what I'm doing and write a letter to the newspaper! The city of Pittsburgh needs to hear about this!" Now think about how often someone is compelled to do this for A+ schools?! Really??!!
I think not. This is a well documented Gates Foundation strategy called "astro turfing" or fake grass roots support. This Gates funded group drums up community support for his "school reform" using cherry picked data to play on the emotions of a public they largely consider too ignorant to dig deep enough to question the numbers or logic. Too further influence the public, "opinion" letters and "editorials" are ramped up whenever the public begins to ask questions (as in Chris Potter's article 2 weeks ago) or to sway public opinion to support Gates style reforms.
As we approach contract negotiations and the public becomes more aware of A+ schools and their shady practices, there will likely be a rise in these types of letters and other desperate measures to influence (brainwash) the public."
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